Kitchen design is often understood only through its functional expression, with concerns such as storage, performance, ergonomics and the demands of daily life driving the design. During Milan Design Week, which took place in April 2026, LEICHT presented a different vision: one that framed the kitchen not only as a functional room but as an architectural presence within the home. Instead of showcasing this approach at Rho Fiera – the busy fairground where almost 2,000 exhibitors take part in the fair – LEICHT transformed the Orangerie of Milan’s Museo Poldi Pezzoli into Art is Now, an immersive installation celebrating the beauty of the German brand’s kitchen architecture.
The Museo Poldi Pezzoli is one of Milan’s most beautiful house-museums, and a fitting setting for LEICHT’s presentation of the kitchen as art. The former private residence is known for its intimate relationship between art, craft and domestic life. LEICHT’s 100-square-metre installation fitted seamlessly within this setting, allowing the kitchen to be read both as a highly functional space for living and a sculptural object.
Art is Now also acted as a calm counterpoint to the busy pace of Milan Design Week. At its centre was a freestanding island block with a precise form softened by the natural beauty of richly veined red marble. A generous bar element extended the island beyond kitchen prep and storage, offering an integrated place to gather and connect around food.
Throughout the exhibition, a restrained yet powerful material palette emphasised the architectural presence of the kitchen elements. Chestnut cabinetry introduced warmth, while the red marble was complemented by colour-matched red island fronts, and black steel accessories and framing introduced a precise graphic edge.
Light was another important part of the installation, and was integrated into the kitchen at key points to elevate both functionality and the beauty of the design. Ceiling-mounted “light bridge” shelving framed the island; lighting was integrated into the Vero glass units, highlighting the honeycomb-etched glass detailing; and a niche rail with integrated lighting was set against the back wall. Even the recessed handles featured integrated lighting for ease of use.
Importantly, the installation explored kitchens beyond their potential for beauty. It showcased how, through clever planning, the kitchen can encompass its traditional function, but also work, storage, display, and relaxation. Tall, two-way open shelving served as both functional storage and a room divider, and slide-away pocket door cabinetry offered the convenience of ample storage without visual clutter.
This kind of consideration in kitchen design is a hallmark of LEICHT, which has been designing kitchens as more than a collection of cabinets, surfaces and appliances since 1928. The brand’s approach is rooted in precision, material beauty, and individual expression, with kitchens crafted as architectural spaces that support the way people live. And, as the way we live has evolved, so too has LEICHT’s vision. In Art is Now, this philosophy was distilled into a kitchen with the presence of an artwork and the intelligence of a room designed to support daily living.
While manufactured in Germany, LEICHT kitchens are specified and delivered locally, with comprehensive design services available Australia wide. To learn more visit the website here.